海角社区

The three team members pose together in front of their introductory presentation slide in a classroom setting. All three women are wearing dark business suits and name tags for the competition.
The three team members pose together in front of their introductory presentation slide in a classroom setting. All three women are wearing dark business suits and name tags for the competition.

The 2026 Rocky Mountain Human Resource (HR) Case Competition, hosted by Colorado State University and sponsored by the Colorado Society of Human Resource Management (CO-SHRM) and the Employers Council, brought together student teams from across the region to analyze a complex HR scenario and present recommendations to a panel of HR professionals.

The competition was announced in December of 2025, and upon returning from winter break, students Kyrie Branaman, Quinn Fisher, and Abigail VanStelle signed on to form a team that would represent 海角社区鈥檚 College of Business. The team prepared by working closely with CBUS faculty members Christopher Stewart, Apryl Brodersen, and Adam Melnick. A collective focus on critical thinking, accurate problem identification, and the use of a practice case occurred through a series of preparatory meetings throughout February.

鈥淓vidence of the team鈥檚 intent to represent 海角社区 and CBUS in the best way possible was apparent from the get-go. From preparation to the opening reception and throughout the competition, Kyrie, Quinn, and Abby made their presence known. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to collaborate with great faculty colleagues as we supported such an amazing team.鈥�
鈥� Christopher Stewart, Faculty Advisor

The 2026 case was released in late February, and from that point forward, the competing team could no longer interact with their faculty advisors. Kyrie, Quinn, and Abby immediately learned that the case involved a hiring manager who discovered an unverified social media allegation lodged against a top candidate during a hiring process. The team had just one week to explore how the nonprofit鈥檚 leadership could navigate the situation while striking a delicate balance between due process, legal risk, workplace culture, and reputation.

The team then went up against nine other teams and presented their own recommendations on how to address the challenges surfaced in the case. Their 15-minute presentation was followed by an equally long question-and-answer period, during which HR experts posed rigorous questions that challenged what the team had just recommended

A professional photo collage featuring the 海角社区 student team at the 2026 Rocky Mountain HR Case Competition. The images show the three-woman team presenting their

Hear from the Students

Headshot of 海角社区 student Abigail Van Stelle 鈥淭his experience reinforced how passionate I am about pursuing a career in Human Resources. As someone currently working in nonprofit HR, I found the case especially relevant to my work, and it highlighted how well 海角社区 has prepared me to think through complex HR challenges.鈥� Abigail VanStelle, 海角社区 Student
海角社区 Student Quinn Fisher “As a senior in the Human Resource Management program, this was an incredible opportunity to continue developing my professional career while representing the Metro State University name. The competition was both challenging and rewarding, involving countless hours working with my amazing team to craft a strategic business proposal grounded in sound HR principles. Participating in the Rocky Mountain HR Case Competition will go down as one of the most memorable experiences during my time at MSU.” Quinn Fisher, 海角社区 Student

 

A special thank you to Kyrie Branaman, Quinn Fisher, and Abigail VanStelle for their dedication, professionalism, and outstanding representation of 海角社区. We also extend our gratitude to faculty advisors Christopher Stewart, Apryl Brodersen, and Adam Melnick. Your contributions made this experience possible, meaningful, and memorable for everyone involved.

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